A decision has been made to consult Yankees manager before taking any action.
The Boston and Detroit teams want Mays to be taken out from having any further participation from playing.
Shortstop, Bush of the Detroit team said that he'd volunteer to the Cleveland club if approval from the League Officials would be made.
Arrangements couldn't be made because his team had different opinions of that perspective.
Players from Detroit and Boston had a meeting in the clubhouse before they played their game and came to an agreement that they would refuse to play part of any game that Mays would take part in.
The teams want to ask Manager Tris Speaker his opinion on all of this.
Mays has been somewhat of a problem for years in the baseball business.
Players have complained about his pitching strategy.
The suggestions of The American League to let Mays to be held from any further participation to play was made.
A decision was made by the St. Louis players and the Washington players that they will take no part in any game that involved Carl Mays.
QUESTIONS
Was it the right decision for the American Leagues to have Bar Mays have no further partcipation in playing?
Do you think Bar Mays deserved this?
Since there were no use of batting helmets back then, were things more dangerous?
If batting helmets were used back in the 1920's, do you think Chapmans death could have been avoided?
Do you think things changed after the incident with Ray Chapman?
Was it a good decision in the St. Louis and Washington players to refuse to play with Carl Mays?
The body of Ray Chapman was sent home to Cleveland the night of the 17th of August.
Fans stood by The Grand Central Terminal while Chapmans body was taken to the train.
Chapmans death had a great impact on the fans all over Cleveland.
Carl Mays went to an Assistant District Attorney and pleaded to not being guilty.
A game between The Yankees and The Indians was put off until thursday.
Tris Speaker, The Manager of the Cleveland Club had a telephone converstation with the part owner of the New York Club and The Part Owner of The New York Club said that he would do anything to take the feeling of hatred from the Indians toward the Yankees because of Chapmans death.
Chapman died at 4:40 A.M.
The blow to the head caused Chapman to have a fracture on his head 3 and a half inches long.
He had blood clots in his brain.
The team hoped for the best.
Waited until dawn hoping for good news, instead they knew he had died.
The news spread rapidly.
Mrs. Chapman arrived at the hospital at 10 A.M.
Chapmans body was removed in the afternoon.
Mays is shocked.
Mays thought that the ball hit the bat.
Bar Mays went to Assistant District Attorney Joyce of the Homicide Bureau at 1 o'clock.
Mays said he regrets what happened and said that he would do anything to undo what had happened.
Chapman played his first professional baseball in 1909.
Cleveland obtained him in 1911.
In 1917 he broke all Major League Sacrifice Records with a total of 67.
QUESTIONS
Why did Mays go to a District Attorney so quickly?
How do you think the New York team felt when they heard of the tragic news?
How do you think Mrs. Chapman felt about her husbands death?
Do you think Mrs. Chapman has hatred toward Carl Mays?
Why do you think it wasnt enough for the death of Ray Chapman for the Major Leagues to start using batting helmets immediately after that incident?
Was Ray Chapman a big part of baseball history?
Essay
In August 1920, Ray Chapman a baseball player of the Cleveland Indians died due to an injury to the skull caused by Carl Mays, pitcher for the New York Yankees. After Chapman's death, things changed in baseball. While some efforts were put into immediate effect, others came decades later, Chapman's death, however, made baseball safer.
August 16, 1920, Raymond Johnson Chapman died due to an injury to the skull at the Polo Grounds.("Chapman Suffers Skull Fracture") Carl Mays, the New York Yankees pitcher had claimed that Chapman had hit the ball, but did not realize what really happened until Chapman collapsed. Chapman was taken to the hospital, and he was confirmed dead on August 17 at 4:40 a.m. His wife did not know until she got to the hospital at 10 a.m.("Discussion Plan To Bar Mays") After that incident, people no longer wanted to play against Carl Mays. Players from the St. Louis and the Washington teams took part in this decision.("Chapman Suffers Skull Fracture") Then another decision was made to forgive Mays. All these events led to making baseball safer because actions were taken.
After the incident with Chapman, rules in the Major Leagues changed. One rule that changed, and had a major impact was with batting helmets. Batting helmets were first developed in 1905.(The Green Weenie "Baseball Batting Helmets-A History" cyaprotectivegear 29 July, 2009) They were made of leather .They were not very popular up until 1952 when the Pittsburgh Pirates started using them. Injuries occurred because there was no protective headgear, and this happened a lot. Chapman affected this decision, even though it came decades later. In 1971, helmets became mandatory to use in the Major Leagues. From then on, baseball became a whole lot safer.(Wikipedia"Baseball Helmet" Wikipedia 29 July, 2009)
During the early 1900's, the spitball was a commonly used pitch in baseball. A spitball was when the pitcher would spit on or put Vaseline on the ball to make the pitch a little harder to hit. The ball would swerve around due to the weight of the spit or the Vaseline on one side of the ball. The pitch was partially banned in 1919. At most, two pitchers were allowed to make this pitch during one game. When Chapman died, the pitch was banned league-wide. What happened, however, was that some pitchers were grandfathered. This meant people who were already using the pitch could continue using it until they retired from baseball. (David H. Hendon, Simi Valley, California"When do baseballs get taken out of play?" The Straight Dope Jan 1, 2008 29 July 2009) Other than that, the pitch could no longer be used because it was too dangerous and Chapman supposedly died from a spitball. Chapman dying affected that decision as well.
During a baseball game back in the 1900's, baseballs used to stay in the game until they were completely damaged. But due to the incident occurring in 1920, baseballs began to be taken out of play whenever they got dirty, hit or dented. The impact of the ball being hit made the baseball to be pitched weirdly. Since the ball got hit, the ball would be unbalanced from the side because it got hit.(Gfactor"When do baseballs get taken out of play?" The Straight Dope Jan 1, 2008 29 July 2009) There were two known reports on how Carl Mays threw the pitch that killed Chapman. The Spitball version and a report about the ball being dirty and Chapman not being able to see it very well. That is why they started taking baseballs out of play so they would always clean and easily visible.
While some efforts were put into immediate effect, and others came decades later, Chapman's death made baseball safer. The Spitball being banned because of all the injuries that happened in the major leagues and in the minor leagues. Baseballs being taken out of play so they don't stay dirty throughout a game. Also making baseball helmets mandatory in 1971. Even though it was 51 years later, it was for the better. This topic is important because it changed baseball history. One little thing changed, and so much occurred after. It was a big cause and affect.
("Chapman Suffers Skull Fracture," The New York Times, August 17, 1920, print)
("Discussion Plan To Bar Mays," The New York Times, August 18, 1920, print)
(Wikipedia"Baseball Helmet" Wikipedia 29 July, 2009, web)
(The Green Weenie "Baseball Batting Helmets-A History" cyaprotectivegear 29 July, 2009, web)
(David H. Hendon, Simi Valley, California"When do baseballs get taken out of play?" The Straight Dope Jan 1, 2008 29 July 2009, web)
(Gfactor"When do baseballs get taken out of play?" The Straight Dope Jan 1, 2008 29 July 2009, web)
January 7th, 1920
NOTES
QUESTIONS
- Why was Ruth sold to the Yankees in the 1920's?
- What did Boston, and the Red Sox say about the sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees?
- Was Ruth pleased with the switching of teams?
- Why were The Red Sox Fans shocked by Babe Ruth's transfer?
- Was was Frazees judgment on all of this?
Source File:Ruth Escapes When Auto Is Smashed
Date: July 8th, 1920
NOTES
QUESTIONS
Link to 1920's almanac: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=vicksa01
Source File:
Chapman Suffers Skull Fracture
Date: August 16, 1920
NOTES
QUESTIONS
Source File:
Discussion Plan to Bar Mays
Date: August 18, 1920
NOTES
- A decision has been made to consult Yankees manager before taking any action.
- The Boston and Detroit teams want Mays to be taken out from having any further participation from playing.
- Shortstop, Bush of the Detroit team said that he'd volunteer to the Cleveland club if approval from the League Officials would be made.
- Arrangements couldn't be made because his team had different opinions of that perspective.
- Players from Detroit and Boston had a meeting in the clubhouse before they played their game and came to an agreement that they would refuse to play part of any game that Mays would take part in.
- The teams want to ask Manager Tris Speaker his opinion on all of this.
- Mays has been somewhat of a problem for years in the baseball business.
- Players have complained about his pitching strategy.
- The suggestions of The American League to let Mays to be held from any further participation to play was made.
- A decision was made by the St. Louis players and the Washington players that they will take no part in any game that involved Carl Mays.
QUESTIONSSource File:
Ray Chapman Dies; Mays Exonerated
Date: August 17,1920
NOTES
QUESTIONS
- Why did Mays go to a District Attorney so quickly?
- How do you think the New York team felt when they heard of the tragic news?
- How do you think Mrs. Chapman felt about her husbands death?
- Do you think Mrs. Chapman has hatred toward Carl Mays?
Source File:Thousands Attend Chapman Funeral
Date: August 21, 1920
NOTES
QUESTIONS
- What do you think people had in their mind when they saw Chapmans casket?
- Do you think Rev. Dr. Scullen helped with the speech he made?
- Did the flower offerings mean anything?
- Why did people choose to donate 10 cents each?
Source File:Mays Returns and Blanks The Tigers
Date: August 24,1920
NOTES
QUESTIONS
- What do you think people had to say about Carl Mays being back?
- How do you think people responded to this?
- Did the death of Ray Chapman as team?
- Was this change good or bad?
- Why do you think Mays was off his game at one of the games?
Source File:Things that were done after Ray Chapmans Death...
- Helmets start to be used more in the 1950's. Become manditory in 1971. Chapmans death is one of the reasons that they started to be used.
Source: http://www.cyaprotectivegear.com/Blog/BlogEntries/BaseballBattingHelmets-AHistory.aspx- The Spitball Pitch being outlawed in 1920.
Sources:http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2278/when-do-baseballs-get-taken-out-of-playBaseball Anecdotes. Daniel Okrent. 1989.
- The Switching of Baseballs start to occur when they get dirty in 1920.
Source: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2278/when-do-baseballs-get-taken-out-of-playExternal Link to "I Forgot To Duck": http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/nine/v011/11.2gorman.html
Outside Research Questions:
Essay
In August 1920, Ray Chapman a baseball player of the Cleveland Indians died due to an injury to the skull caused by Carl Mays, pitcher for the New York Yankees. After Chapman's death, things changed in baseball. While some efforts were put into immediate effect, others came decades later, Chapman's death, however, made baseball safer.
August 16, 1920, Raymond Johnson Chapman died due to an injury to the skull at the Polo Grounds.("Chapman Suffers Skull Fracture") Carl Mays, the New York Yankees pitcher had claimed that Chapman had hit the ball, but did not realize what really happened until Chapman collapsed. Chapman was taken to the hospital, and he was confirmed dead on August 17 at 4:40 a.m. His wife did not know until she got to the hospital at 10 a.m.("Discussion Plan To Bar Mays") After that incident, people no longer wanted to play against Carl Mays. Players from the St. Louis and the Washington teams took part in this decision.("Chapman Suffers Skull Fracture") Then another decision was made to forgive Mays. All these events led to making baseball safer because actions were taken.
After the incident with Chapman, rules in the Major Leagues changed. One rule that changed, and had a major impact was with batting helmets. Batting helmets were first developed in 1905.(The Green Weenie "Baseball Batting Helmets-A History" cyaprotectivegear 29 July, 2009) They were made of leather .They were not very popular up until 1952 when the Pittsburgh Pirates started using them. Injuries occurred because there was no protective headgear, and this happened a lot. Chapman affected this decision, even though it came decades later. In 1971, helmets became mandatory to use in the Major Leagues. From then on, baseball became a whole lot safer.(Wikipedia"Baseball Helmet" Wikipedia 29 July, 2009)
During the early 1900's, the spitball was a commonly used pitch in baseball. A spitball was when the pitcher would spit on or put Vaseline on the ball to make the pitch a little harder to hit. The ball would swerve around due to the weight of the spit or the Vaseline on one side of the ball. The pitch was partially banned in 1919. At most, two pitchers were allowed to make this pitch during one game. When Chapman died, the pitch was banned league-wide. What happened, however, was that some pitchers were grandfathered. This meant people who were already using the pitch could continue using it until they retired from baseball. (David H. Hendon, Simi Valley, California"When do baseballs get taken out of play?" The Straight Dope Jan 1, 2008 29 July 2009) Other than that, the pitch could no longer be used because it was too dangerous and Chapman supposedly died from a spitball. Chapman dying affected that decision as well.
During a baseball game back in the 1900's, baseballs used to stay in the game until they were completely damaged. But due to the incident occurring in 1920, baseballs began to be taken out of play whenever they got dirty, hit or dented. The impact of the ball being hit made the baseball to be pitched weirdly. Since the ball got hit, the ball would be unbalanced from the side because it got hit.(Gfactor"When do baseballs get taken out of play?" The Straight Dope Jan 1, 2008 29 July 2009) There were two known reports on how Carl Mays threw the pitch that killed Chapman. The Spitball version and a report about the ball being dirty and Chapman not being able to see it very well. That is why they started taking baseballs out of play so they would always clean and easily visible.
While some efforts were put into immediate effect, and others came decades later, Chapman's death made baseball safer. The Spitball being banned because of all the injuries that happened in the major leagues and in the minor leagues. Baseballs being taken out of play so they don't stay dirty throughout a game. Also making baseball helmets mandatory in 1971. Even though it was 51 years later, it was for the better. This topic is important because it changed baseball history. One little thing changed, and so much occurred after. It was a big cause and affect.
("Chapman Suffers Skull Fracture," The New York Times, August 17, 1920, print)
("Discussion Plan To Bar Mays," The New York Times, August 18, 1920, print)
(Wikipedia"Baseball Helmet" Wikipedia 29 July, 2009, web)
(The Green Weenie "Baseball Batting Helmets-A History" cyaprotectivegear 29 July, 2009, web)
(David H. Hendon, Simi Valley, California"When do baseballs get taken out of play?" The Straight Dope Jan 1, 2008 29 July 2009, web)
(Gfactor"When do baseballs get taken out of play?" The Straight Dope Jan 1, 2008 29 July 2009, web)
http://batteries.sabr.org/chapman_ray.jpg <====Ray Chapman
[[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_KsROmkzxqyc/SdoW_t3mBII/AAAAAAAAAGE/WCdyfteT39w/s400/baseball.jpg <===Baseballhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/RaymondJohnsonChapmanPlaque.jpg/200px-RaymondJohnsonChapmanPlaque.jpg <===== Chapmans Plaque(It represented that many fans loved him and the players wanted to keep his memory alive.)